Drafting case and board



Aprily7, 1931. A. G. CLARK DRAFTING CASE AND BOARD Filed Jan.- 24, 1930 1/ ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 7, 1931 PATENT GFFICE ALFRED G. CLARK, F KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI DRAFTING CASE AND BOARD Application filed January 24, 1930.

My invention relates to improvement-s in drafting cases and boards.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a novel drafting case, which is simple, cheap, convenient to carry and to store,

which may be easily and quickly converted into a drafting board, or into a container for drafting implements including a drafting board and a T square.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates my invention,

Fig. 1 is an enlarged perspective view of my improved drafting case and board, partly broken away, and showing the cover in the drafting position with a T square mounted thereon in its operative position.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the case with the cover reversed from the drafting position.

Fig. 3 is a reduced plan view similar to Fig. 2, showing the T square lifted by one of the cover projections over the adjacent cover guide.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on the line 4-4 of Fig.3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a reduced perspective view of a so modified form of drafting board cover.

Similar characters of reference designate similar parts in the different views.

The drafting case comprises a box 1 and a cover therefor. The box 1 has an open top and longitudinal parallel side cover guides 2, one end 3 of the box, between the guides 2, being lower than said guides to afford a space above said end through which the cover may be inserted or withdrawn.

The drafting board cover, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, comprises a sheet metal plate 4 having at one end a right angled flange 5. he longitudinal edges of the plate 4 are respectively removably slidably mounted in the guides comprising channels 2.

Forming a part of the cover is a drafting board 6 which is attached to the side of the plate 4 from which extends the flange 5, one end of the board abutting against said flange, 5% and the other end of the board being spaced Serial No. 423,038.

from the corresponding or inner end of the plate 4, so as to form a recess 7 adapted to receive the head 8 of a T square, when the cover is in the drafting position, as in Fig. 1, or when the cover is reversed from the drafting position and the T square is in the box 1, as in Figs. 2 and 5. Such recess 7 permits the box 1 to be made shallow, while still providing ample room for the T square and other implements or drafting sheets.

The flange 5 has attached to its outer side a handle 9.

When the board is to be used for drawing, the plate 4 is withdrawn from the box 1, reversed, and then slid, in such reversed drafting position, into the guides 2. The T square may then be applied to the board, with the head 8 in the recess 7, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Then a thin drafting board is mounted on the plate 4, the latter respectively adjacent to its longitudinal edges may be provided with two raised'projections 10 on the plate 4 adjacent to the inner end of the board 6, Figs. 3 and 4. These projections 10 lift the T square head 8 above the guides, when the head is extended over said guides during a drawing operation.

TVhen the case is not to be used longer, the plate 4 and board 6 are withdrawn. The T square is then placed in the box with the head 8 at the inner end thereof, as in Fig.

The plate 4 with the board 6 is then reversed t'op for bottom and the plate 4 is slid into the groove guides 2, the board '6 passing over the end 3 of the'box to the position shown in Fig. 5, at which time the flange 5 will be in register with the end 3, thus closing the space above said end.

The inner end of the plate 4 will enter a groove 11 in the inner side of the rear end of the box 1 and having its end respectively communicating with the guide grooves 2 at the rear ends thereof.

The flange 5, in addition to closing the space above the end 3 of the box 1, also protects the outer end of the board 6, and stif'fens the plate The head 8 of the T square will be, as shown in Fig. 5, in the recess 7 at the rear end of the board 6. Drawing utensils and drafting sheets may be placed in the box 1 before the T square is inserted therein.

Vhile I prefer to provide the recess 7 to receive the lead of the T square, when the parts are shown, as in Fig. the box 1 may be made deeper and the board (5 lengthened.

In Fig. 6 is shown a modified drafting board cover, in which the cover comprises a wooden member 6 having two longitudinal edge flanges 12 adapted to be respectively removably slidably mounted in the groove guides 2 of the box 1. The board cover 6 is also reversible top for bottom, and the top drafting side, as shown in 6, may he used for the drafting side. This side may be provided at its rear end portion with a recessed portion 7 adapted to receive the head 8 of the T square. The front end of the board 6 is provided with a thumb piece 9.

I do not limit my invention to the struc turcs shown and described, as other modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made without do irtin from the spirit of my invention.

\Vhat I claim is 1. A drafting case and board a box having an open top, cover guides, and an end between and lower than ski-d guides, and a drafting board cover reversible i191) for bottom and removablv slidable in said guides, and, when reversed from the drafting position and inserted into said guiri passing into said box over said end and closing the space above said end.

2. A drafting case and board comprising a box having an open top, cover guides, a d an end between and lower than said guides, and a drafting board cover reversible top for bottom and rcmovablv slidable in said guides, and, when reversed from the drafting position and inserted into said guides, passing into said box over said end and closing the space above said end, and having in one side at one end a. recess extending across the cover adapted to receive the head of a T square.

3. A drafting case and board comprising comprising a box having an open top, cover guides, and

an end between and lower than said guides,

and a drafting board cover comprising a plate removablv slidable in said guides and reversible top for bottom to and from a drafting position, and a drafting board attached flatwise to one side of said plate and, when said plate is reversed from the drafting position and inserted into said guides, passing into said box ove said end.

4. A drafting case and board comprising a box having an open top, cover guides, and an end between and lower than said guides, and a drafting board cover comprising a plate removably slidable in said guides and reversible top for bottom to and from a drafting position, and a drafting board attached fiatwise to one side of said plate and, when said plate is reversed from the drafting position and inserted into said guides, passing into said box over said end, one end of said board being spaced from the corresponding end of said plate to provide a recess adapted to receive the head of a T square.

5. r drafting case and board comprising a box having an open top, cover guides, and an end between and lower than said guides, and a drafting board cover comprising a plate removably slidable in said guides and reversible top for bottom to and from a drafting position and having at one end flange adapted, when said plate is reversed from the drafting position and slid in said guides to the closed position, to close the space above said end of said box, and a drafting board attached flatwise to the side of said plate opposite to the side from which said flange projects, and. when said plate is revers d from the drafting position and inserted into said guides, passing into said box over said end of said box.

(3. A drafting case and board comprising a box having an open top, cover guides, and an end between and lower than said guides, and a drafting board cover comprising a plate removably slidable in said guides and reversible top for bottom to and from a drafting position and having at one end a flange adapted, when said plate is reversed from the d 'afting position, to close the space above said end of said box, and a drafting board attached flatwise to the side of said plate opposite to the side from which said flange projects, and. when said plate is reversed from the drafting position and inserted into said guides, passing into said box over said end of said box, one end of said board being spaced from the corresponding end of said plate to provide a recess adapted to receive the head of a T square.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ALFRED G. CLARK. 

